We had the fortune of travelling again, this time international in October. It was a trip like no other, more a spiritual journey than vacation. We spent a few days in Cairo and Iraq after a great layover in Amsterdam and ended the trip with some family time in Dubai.

D is now two and a half years old.. he has been continuing with his swim classes and took some art and gym classes early in the year. And this fall by baby boy started play school, surprise surprise but he couldn't be happier. He doesn't want to come home!

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With D's first year of play school came another first, his first teacher's gift. I couldn't think of anything cuter than something made by him. So we cut out a pair of trees and a pair of stars out of cardboard and brought out the paints.

I glued the two pieces together with some yellow pipe cleaner for the loop. Next came the card. We put away the paints and brought out some markers. We made two.

While playing with some food coloring and a paper napkin I thought strips of the napkin would be perfect to get the cards a more finished look. Don't they look pretty?

I placed the card and ornament in a clear organza bag along with a candy cane. :) What do your kids make gifts for their teachers? Or do you buy a present? At what age does handmade stop being cute?

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It has been a wonderful five years since M and I married..we celebrated our fifth anniversary over the weekend. We were engaged for three years before that so we have know each other for eight years..eight years.. wow. What about the time before we got engaged you ask? Well here's a little something you didn't know. M and I are a product of an arranged marriage.. I know it sounds archaic but not only is it working (pretty awesomely) I must add, for us as well as for so many other people out there.

So this is how it happened, in a nut shell. His aunt knew my mom, she arranged for us to meet at her place. My mom, his mom, his aunt and M and I sat in a room. They talked, we didn't and it was over. I moved on with my life and he his. A month later my mother get's a call. M wants to take me out for coffee.. so we go out, we talk, well I do most of the talking, he's the silent type. I'm in art school, he's an accountant, an auditor he clarifies.. I don't know the difference. It has something to do with numbers right? He drops me back home and within a few hours we get another phone call. He's interested if I am. We go out one or two more times and we are engaged. Romantic I know.

He worked in Singapore and then moved to New York, so the three years of our engagement consisted of phone calls, e mails and a lot of long distance drama. We were working with an eleven hour time difference which didn't help matters. I would share pictures but I can not seem to find any?!

And then came the wedding.. our weddings usually last over a week. There are many events, lots of outfit changes and bright colors..

It's only been five years yet we have loved so much, grown so much and learnt so much. We have traveled and explored and most importantly created a family.

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All these goodies are making me want to take a bath.. but I must confess, I have never taken a bath (minus my toddler days of course) I wouldn't even know where to begin. What are some of your bath tips? What do I need to do to draw the perfect bath?

And don't forget to check out my shop full of great art and my new sale section. And get Free Shipping with code BLOG12

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